As downpours look set to continue across the UK, slug activity is ramping up, leaving prized plants at risk but experts at Envii have the key to keeping slugs and snails away efficiently using natural methods and without killing them.
- Grow plants ‘hard’ and don’t pamper them
Don’t overfeed plants and, when you do fertilise, make sure you feed the soil, not the plant. Nitrogen‑rich fertilisers encourage rapid plant growth that tends to be lush and green, high in water content, and low in structural fibres. In other words, soft sappy and absolutely delicious to slugs and snails!
Feed the soil with slow-build inputs, such as compost, leaf-mould, well-rotted manure, or turn to Envii Feed & Protect. This plant-strengthening tonic makes leaves less palatable to slugs and snails. It toughens leaf tissue and, because it doesn’t contain any nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium, it improves resilience without forcing lush growth that that attracts slugs.
- Carry our night patrols
Heading out 10 minutes after dusk with a torch and a bucket to hand-pick slugs and snails from your beds can dramatically reduce numbers. Focus on seedlings, hostas, delphiniums, sweet peas and veg beds, which prove popular with slugs looking for a snack. When you’ve grabbed all you can see, relocate your unwanted visitors at least 20-30 metres from your garden. Any closer and they’ll simply slime their way back!
- Don’t rush seedlings out
We know it’s been a late start to the season and you’re keen to get seedlings out as soon as they’re ready but soft, young plants make easy prey for slimy pests. Instead, let them acclimatise gradually to toughen up, and, if possible, keep them in a cold frame until they’re robust enough to withstand some slug pressure.
- Make the most of mulch
Some mulches work wonders when it comes to slugs and snails; others do nothing or don’t hold up in wet weather, such as eggshells. Wool pellets have been found to deter slugs, as have coffee grounds and gravel, creating a gritty surface slugs and snails find uncomfortable and difficult to navigate, so use any of these to create a barrier around vulnerable plants.
- Put them off their food
Turn slugs and snails off your plants by playing with their tastebuds. Envii Feed & Protect uses a concentrated blend of micro-nutrients to subtly alter the taste of plant foliage, making it unappealing to slugs and snails and encouraging them to move on – all whilst improving plant growth, nutrient uptake, and overall plant health. Not only does this dual-purpose wonder product nourish plants and safely deter slimy pests, the taste change is so subtle, it is completely undetectable to humans, meaning it won’t impact the flavour of edible plants. Feed & Protect is 100% safe for pets, children, and wildlife.
Unlike traditional slug pellets, Envii Feed & Protect doesn’t harm slugs or other soil organisms, such as earthworms, making it an environmentally friendly option for home gardens. The game-changing product:
- Toughens leaf tissue
- Make plants taste bitter to slugs
- Improve resilience and nutrient uptake without forcing lush growth
- Efficiently encourages slugs to move elsewhere
- Keeps your garden as a safe space for pets, children & wildlife
For more information or to shop the full range, visit www.envii.co.uk